Toy



Feb. 5, 1935. I A. M. BARRE-TT TOY Filed April 20, 1931 2 Sheets-Sheet 1A. M. BARRETT Feb. 5, 1935;

TOY

Filed April 20, 1951 2. Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Feb. 5, 1935 PATENTOFFICE 'ror Arthur M. Barrett, Chicago, 111., assignor to HerbertSpecialty Manufacturing 00., Chicago, 111., a corporation of IllinoisApplication April 20, 1931, Serial No. 531,450

13 Claims.

The present invention relates generally to toys and similar amusementdevices and has for its principal purpose the provision of a jumpingfigure and missile throwing means which are so arranged and constructedthat when the figure is struck by the missile it executes a completesomersault in the air, emitting a sound or sounds as it does so, thuscreating an interesting and. more or less startling effect.

Other objects and advantages of the present invention will be apparentto those skilled in the art after a consideration of the followingdetailed description of the preferred structural embodiment, taken inconjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a vertical side elevation of my improved jumping figure toy;

Figure 2 is also a vertical side elevation, but showing certain partsbroken away and in section, in order to more clearly show the interiorthereof;

Figure 3 is a rear view of the device shown in Figures 1 and 2 andshowing particularly the target and trigger mechanism and the pivotalsupport thereof on the base of the jumping figure;

Figure 4 is a view similar to Figure 2 and showing the position of thejumping figure as it begins the execution of the jump or somersault;

Figure 5 is a view of the power storing spring mechanism by virtue ofwhich the somersault is executed and corresponding to a section takensubstantially along the line 5-5 of Figure 2;

Figure 6 is a perspective showing the top plate of the base portionbefore the figure and associated parts are attached thereto;

Figure 7 is a fragmentary detailed view showing one of the spring legsfor the figure proper, as shown in Figure 1, other form of spring legsbeing illustrated in Figures 2, 8 and 4;

Figure 8 is a vertical cross-section showing one form of sound devicewhich, as shown, may be incorporated in the body'of the figure proper;

Figure 9 is a modified form of figure showing, by way of example, ahuman figure bearing a knapsack in which may be incorporated a sounddevice;

Figure 10 is another form of jumping figure wherein the sound device ismounted on the base and is adapted to be actuated by the spring meanswhich furnishes the energy by virtue of which the toy executes itsmovement; and

Figure 11 shows the way in which the jumping toy is used.

Referring now more particularly to Figure 1, the reference numeral 1indicates, in its entirety,

a figure in the form of a bird or similar animal, having a head 2, aneck 3, a more or less rounded body a, wings 5 and legs 6. The legs 6are formed of spring wire, as illustrated in Figure "I, the ends ofwhich are looped, as at 10 and 11, by which fastening means 12 and 13 inthe form of small tacks or nails may be used to secure the legs to thebody 4 and to the flat base, the latter being indicated in its entiretyby the reference numeral 15. By virtue of the resilient or spring legs6, the .figure is supported on the base 15 so that it is free tooscillate back and forth in quite a realistic and lifelike manner.

The base 15, in the preferred structural embodiment, contains most ofthe operating mechanism by which the figure is caused to execute itsmovements. The base 15 comprises a pair of spaced plates or fiat members16 and 1'? of the general configuration shown in Figures 5 and 6. Asthere shown, one end of each of the base plates is slightly narrowerthan the other end, and it is upon the narrow end of the base that thefigure itself is preferably mounted. The plates 16 and 1'7 are spaced bya strip of material 18 bent as best shown in Figure 5. Preferably theplates 16 and 17 are formed of cardboard or similar material while thestrip 18 is preferably of sheet metal. Rivets 20 are'utilized to securethe plates 16 and 17 together and to firmly hold the irregularly shapedstrip 18 in place. To aid in this respect, the strip 18 is bent so thatloops 19 are formed near the forward edge of the base which embraces thetwo forward rivets 20. Preferably,

-' the plates 16 and 17 are apertured, as at 22 in Figure 6, before therivets 20 are applied and secured in place.

The power for causing the figure to jump is derived from coil springmeans, best shown in Figures 4 and 5. A rod or shaft 24 is received bysuitably formed apertures in the sides of the strip 18 approximatelycentrally of the base 15.

' A length of spring wire is bent to form two sections 26 and 27, andeach section is suitably coiled about the rod 24 to form thereby coiledsprings spirally wound thereon. Each of the outer ends of the sections26 and 27 is suitably fixed to the base 15, as by being passed throughan aperture in the sides of the strip 18, as indicated in Figures 4 and5 by the reference numeral 29. The other ends of the sections 26 and 27form a loop '31 which serves as an extension or operating finger andwhich is extended along the base 15 radially from the rod 24. Althoughnot essential, the loop 31 may embrace a finger or lever in Figures 4and 5. Preferably, the finger or lever 33 is formed ofwood, butobviously other suitable material may be employed as may be desired.

Since one end of the coil spring means 26 and 27 is secured to the base15 and the other end is secured to the pivoted finger 33, it will beclear that when the finger 33 is manually swung from its dotted lineposition shown in Figure 5 to the position shown in full lines, thecoiled spring means 26 and 27 will be tensioned or stressed and will,when released, react against the fioor, table,

or other support to cause the toy to execute a vertical jumpingmovement. In this connection, it is important to note from Figure 4 thatthe end of the finger 33 which presses against the floor or othersupports when placed in stressed or bi- ,asedv position, issubstantially directly underneath the figure l at the beginning of thejumping operation.

,The means for releasably holding the spring means 26, 27 and 33 in itsbiased position prefer- 1 ably comprises latch or trigger means in theform of .3 pivoted member 35 havin a hook-like projectionv 36 at itslower end which is adapted to engage underneath the end or" the fingeror extension 33 to hold. the same in that position against the action ofthe coiled springs 26 and 27. The member 35 is pivoted or otherwisemovably mounted on the base l5 by virtue of being passed through a slot38 formed near the rear edge of the upper base plate 16, the triggermember 35 having a pair of laterally extending ears or projections 39and' lO (see Figure 3), which prevents the "trigger 35 from becomingdetached from the base 15.

' The upper end of the trigger 35 bears a target plate 42 which ispreferably riveted to the upper end of the trigger bar 35 after thesamehas been inserted through the opening 38 in the plate 16. .Thus, thetrigger or latch means 35 is vmovalcly or pivotally supported on thebase 15 with its hooked end 36 in position to engage the outermostendgoi" the finger or extension 33 when the same has. been moved fromits dotted line position against the action of the coiled springs 26 and27 to a point near the rear edge of the base 15 and substantiallydirectly underneath the figure 1. For the purpose of permitting theswinging or throwing movement of, the extension 33, the lower base plate17 is provided with a cut-out portion 45,, best shown in Figure 5.

When the extension or finger 33 has been ene sed bythe trigger 35, thejumping figure is ,ready to be operated. All that it is necessary to dois to move the upper end of the member 35 carrying the target plate 42,forward slightly, that is, from its position shown in Figure 2 to itsposition shown in Figure whereupon the finger 33 will be released andthe power stored in the coiled :springs 26 and 2'? will be madeavailable to force the. outer end of the finger 33 against'the table,floor or other supports, the reaction of this force being exertedagainst the base 15 and will forcibly rock the device about the forwardedge of its base and also throw the same into the air where it executesa complete somersault, landing on its base in an upright position asindicated in Figures 4 and 11. Obviously, the strength and position ofthe springs 26 and 27 may be adjusted or -arranged so as to cause thefigure or toy to exethe body 4 of the figure l. figure 1 may take theform of cute one or more complete turns, or the springs may be soarranged that the figure will jump into the air without turning, or anycombination of these movements. I

The interest and amusement derived from a toy such as that described isgreatly increased where some form of sound emitting device isincorporated and made operative when the figure is executmg itsso-mersault or jumping movement. The present invention contemplates theassociation with the toy of a sound device or" usual or conventionalconstruction. Such a sound device, per se, forms no part of the presentinvention and will not be disclosed or described other than sufficientto show its association with the jumping figure of the presentinvention.

Referring now more particularly to Figure 8, I have illustrated onepossible construction embodying a sound device or squawker. As thereshown, the body 4 is hollow and defines or encloses a chamber or space56 in which a weighted pendulum 51 is pivotally suspended. The pendulum51 is arranged to hang pendant substantially in the middle of the space50. Secured to the walls of the chamber or recess 50, or otherwisefixedly mounted in the body 4 of the jumping figure, are a pair ofbellows 53 and 54 provided with cooperating reeds or other noise makersor squawkers indicated by the reference numerals 56 and 57 and which arearranged to be sounded when the bellows 53 and 54 are com dressed.

The operation of the toy with a sounding device of this character issubstantially as follows. When the trigger 35 is released the springs 26and 27 throw the figure 1 upwardly into the air and cause the same toexecute one or more somersaults as pointed out above. Since the weightedpendulum 51, however, possesses considerable inertia the tendency willbe for the figure to turn with respect to the weighted pendulum 51 in. aclockwise direction, as viewed in Figure 8, that is, the pendulum willtend to stay in its original position. ,This will compress the bellows54 and will cause the device 57 to emit a sound, this occurring inpractice practically instantaneously with the actuation of the trigger35 releasing the extension or finger '33. The other bellows 53 and thesounding device 56 will be actuated when the figure completes itsturning movement and lands on its base again, the weighted pendulum 51by this time partially or wholly taking up the rotation of the figure 1.When the figure lands on the base the pendulum 51 tend to continue inits rotation and the inertia thereof will therefore cause the pendulumto swing rearwardlly with respect to the body thuscompressing thebellows 53 and causing the device 56 to emit a sound. In this way, thejumping toy is caused to emit a sound or squawk immediately after thetrigger is released and also immediately after the figure lands back onits base again.

While I have described in some detail above one form of sound devicewhich may be associated with the jumping figure shown in Figures 1, 2, 3and 4, it is to be understood that other sounding devices may beincorporated, and they may be mounted in a place or position other thanFor example, the a person, such as a toy soldier bearing on its back aknapsack 59, this modification being illustrated in Figure 9. In such afigure as here shown, the squawker or other sound device may be mountedwithin the knapsack rather than within the body 4 of the figure. I 7

Another possible location for the sounding device or devices is in thevbase'l5. This mounting of the sounding devices is indicated in Figure10. Here the base 15, carrying the figure 1 at or near its rear edge, isprovided with a pair of squawkers 60 and 61. These squa-wkers. mayinclude some form of bellows and reed device ..(not shown). When mountedon the base, aconvenient manner of operating the bellows is to havethemactuated by the spring pressed finger or extension 33. For this purpose,a small rod or plunger 62 may be connected with the bellows in thesquawker 60 and arranged with some form of spring so that when thetrigger 35 releases the finger'33 and the same is swung downwardlyrelatively to the base 15, the bellows will be expanded and a noise orother sound emitted. As for the bellows 61, this may be operated inpractically the same manner, except that the plunger or button 63thereof will be connected with the bellows of the squawker 61 so thatwhen the extension 33 is swung to its inoperative position, the button63 will be contactedand forced upwardly, thereby operating the bellowsto create the sound.

When my improved jumping figure is thus equipped with some form of soundemitting device or devices, a very novel and striking effect is securedwhen such a toy. or amusement device is used as an object to be shot atwith some form of toy pistol or other missile projecting device. Thepresent invention contemplates such a combination as animportant featurethereof and it is for this purpose that the trigger 35 is provided withthe target 42 as described above.

Referring now more particularly to Figure 11, the toy pistol, indicatedin its entirety by the reference numeral '70 may be of any type, but, asi1- lustrated, is one of the kind wherein a wooden button 71, attachedto the body of the piston 70 by means of a string 72, is projected byspring means 74 forming a part of thepiston structure and which, perseyis not of the essence of the present invention. The pistol 70 is thusutilized in firing at the target 42, andif the spring finger 33 has beenproperly tensioned and engaged by the latch 35, immediately the target42 is hit by the missile '70 the figure 1 jumps into the air emittingone or more sounds and landing back upon its base again in a most noveland life-like manner. The spring legs 6, giv'mg resiliency to thesupport for the figure l, greatly contributes to this result. Where thejumping figure is a birdlike animal, the sounds emitted from the one ormore sound devices may imitate the cry emitted by a bird when struck bya pellet of some sort. Obviously other sounds or notes may be employedwhere desired.

While I have shown the jumping figure as set into operation by therelease of the trigger mechanism 35, it is also contemplated'by thepresent invention to associate the figure release 35, 36 directly withthe figure 1 so that, in such cases, all that it would be necessary todo would be to project the missile 71 directly against the figure 1. Itis also to be understood that, while I have shown a pistol '70projecting a wooden pellet '71, other missile projecting devices may beutilized and are to be contemplated as falling within the scope of thepresent inventon. For example, balls, marbles, and the like may bethrown by hand or by some device at the figure 1, and if at sufiicientdistance considerable skill may be required to hit the target 42. Inthis sense, the jumping figure becomes of the nature of a game.

While I have shown and described the preferred structural embodiment ofthe present invention, it is to be understood that my invention is notto be limited to the specific means shown and described, but that, infact, widely different means may be employed in the practice of thebroader aspects of the present invention, as defined by the appendedclaims.

A cheaper embodiment of the present toy will have the target and thefigure in one piece and the appended claims are intended to cover suchembodiment of the invention.

What I claim, therefore, and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:-

1. A toy comprising, in combination, a figure having a base and springlegs connecting the base to the figure, said base having an openingtherein, means adapted to be stressed to impart motion to the toy, alatch extending through said base opening for pivotal movement relativeto said base and having one end thereof arranged to releasably hold thefirst mentioned means in inoperative position, and target meansassociated with the other end of said latch for releasing said stressedmeans.

2. A jumping toy comprising, in combination,

a base, a figure mounted on said base, a spring biased member on thelower portion of said base 7 and including a finger, a trigger extendingthrough said base and pivoted thereon intermediate its length, saidtrigger having a catch adapted to engage said finger for releasablyholding it in tensioned position, and means acting as a target on theupper portion of said trigger and arranged when impacted by a projectileto release said finger whereby the figure is caused to jump, said latch,target and spring biased member being carried-by said base.

3. A toy comprising, in combination, a base, a figure mounted on saidbase, a transverse support fixed centrally of the base, spring meanscoiled about said support and having one end fixed to and carried by thebase and a longitudinal extension at the other end, said extension beinadapted to be placed near one end of the base and to be swung throughthe open bottom to 00- cupy a stressed position near the other end ofthe base, a latch movably mounted on the base to project above and belowthe same and provided at its lower end with catch means to releasablyretain said extension in stressed relation, and contact means on thelatch adapted when moved to release said extension, whereby the reactionof the spring means causes the toy to execute a turning movement in theair, said latch being carried by said base.

4. A toy comprising, in combination, a figure, force storing meansreleasable to impart bodily movement to the figure, and means carriedthereby for emitting a sound when the figure initially begins itsmovement and emitting another sound after the figure is moving.

5. A toy comprising, in combination, a figure, force storing meansreleasable to impart bodily movement to the figure, and inertia operatedmeans supported by the body of said figure for emitting a sound whensaid figure initially begins its movement and when the figure hascompleted its movement.

6. A toy comprising, in combination, a base, a figure mounted on saidbase, force storing spring means releasably tensioned to impart movementto the figure and base, and latch means for releasably holding saidforce storing spring means in tensioned relation comprising an armprojecting outwardly of said base and pivoted intermediate its length, atarget secured to the 'projecting end of said arm, and hook means forthe inner end of said arm to releasably engage said force storing'springmeans and to hold the same in tensioned relation until said target isactuated, said springmeans, latch means and target being carried by saidbase. a

7. A jumping toy comprising, in combination, a figure having a base,releasable spring actuated means confined within said base and operablewhen released to cause said figure and base to jump into the air, saidbase comprising an upper plate, a lower plate having an opening thereinthrough which said spring actuated means operates, an enclosing stripmounted on edge between said plates to dispose the latter in spacedrelation to each other, and means connecting said plates to hold thesame against said strip and to hold the latter in position therebetween.8. A toy comprising, in combination, a figure mounted on abase, springactuated means con fined within said base and releasably tensioned toimpart movement to said base and figure, trigger means releasablyconnected with said spring actuated means, said trigger when struckreleasing said spring means and thereby causing said figure and base tojump and inertia operated sound means for emitting two separate sounds,one when the figure starts to move after the spring means has beenreleased and the other sound when the toy lands after completing thejump.

9. A toy comprising, in combination, a base member, a figure member onsaid base member, force storing means associated with one of saidmembers and releasable to impart movement to said members, and aplurality of separatersound means associated with said members, saidforce storing means being arranged for directly contacting one of saidsound means when said force storing means is in operative position anddisposed for directly contacting the other'oi said sound means whenmoving to inoperative pos' tion, respectively, whereby one of said soundmeans is adapted to emit a sound-when said force storingmeans-isreleased and the other of said sound means is adapted to emit a soundwhen said force storing means comes toinoperative position.

10. A toy comprising, in combination, a figure,

force storing means releasable to impart move-- ment to the figure, andseparate sound members associated with said figure, one of said membersbeing operatively connected with said means when the latter :isinoperative position prior to its being released, the other of said soundmembers being disposed in the path of said meansto stop the latter whenreleased, whereby said force storing means actuates said one soundmember to emit a sound when said means is released, and actuates saidother sound member to emit a sound when said means comes to rest. I

11. A toy comprising, inrcombination, a base having an openingtherein, afigure mounted on said base, means adapted'to be stressed to impartmotion to the toy, a'latch extending through said base opening forpivotal movement relative to said base and having one end thereofarranged to releasably holdsaid means in inoperative position, andtarget means associated with the other end of said latch for releasingsaid stressed means, said motion imparting means, latch and target beingcarried by said base.

12. In a toy of the class described, a base, a figure mounted upon saidbase, spring mechanism ior'imparting movement to the figure and base, alatch for holding said spring mechanism tensioned, and a target havingmeans for releasing said latch, said spring mechanism, latch and targetbeing carried by said'base.

' 13. In -.a toy of the class described, a base, a figure mounted uponsaid base, spring mechanism for imparting movement to the figure andbase, latch for holding said spring mechanism tensioned, a target havingmeans for releasing said latch, said spring mechanism, latch and targetbeing carried by said base, and spring means included in the means formounting said figure on said base. p

ARTHUR M. BARRETT.

